Page 32 of Final Reckoning

Good thing, because he and Mickey have their hands full with their three sets of twins: Gino and Luca, now almost six; Abri and Adalina, three; and newborns Desi and Ciro. They’re blissfully happy being full-time parents.

“Anyway,” Gina says when Gemma has settled, “I think Jade said it all. We really enjoyed putting the show together, so I think we’ll do another one in a few years. Of course, if we want to do annual fundraisers for the sanctuary, then we can contribute pieces for a silent auction even if we don’t put on a full show.”

“Ooh, silent auction,” Bree says. “I can offer a Callahan’s gift certificate.”

Funnily enough, it was my wanderlust twin who wound up settling down as a full-time businesswoman. She and Lando did a big trip for their honeymoon, and still travel together sometimes, but Brianna’s heart is at home with Lando and their three-year-old twins, Rosa and Renata.

“I could do a set of blueprints,” Dani offers. She’s a big-shot architect now, or as big as she can be for someone who refuses to move to a huge city. Her son Felipo, also three, is sitting on her lap, and Wolf is rocking baby Rachele, who’s only a few weeks old.

“That would be great,” I tell her. “It really means a lot to me to have you all contribute like this.”

“You’re family,” Kosta says with a smile. “It’s what we do.” He plucks his and Erin’s six-month-old daughter Fia from her high chair and tucks her against his chest. “Tonio and I could contribute the grand prize, eh, cugino?”

Kosta’s done quite well with his investments. These days he’s a full-time philanthropist, overseeing his own charitable foundation. Erin finished law school at the same time as Romero and his cousin Kara were looking to expand their law practice, so now the three of them work together.

“Of course,” Tonio says. He’s holding Nico, who’s only two and a half and has fallen sound asleep. “And my bride could contribute a poem, perhaps.”

Caitlin blushes. She and Tonio are still like newlyweds, except they’re not gooey about it. You can just tell that they’re never going to stop being crazy about each other. “I could do that,” she says.

Cait’s come into her own as a poet, and has had two collections published, but I think she hasn’t quite adjusted to thinking of herself as a serious artist yet.

“I’ll do a gift certificate too,” Brando says. He sends Sasha a fond smile. “A free coupon for a social work consultation might be a little tricky, however.”

“Ba ba ba ba ba!” Clara announces. She and her twin brother Angelo are in highchairs on either side of Sasha and Brando.

“A gift certificate for free baby babbles?” Sasha says, laughing. “I could record them and send them out to people who need cheering up.”

“You’ll start a new trend,” I tell her. “I would be more than willing to bet there are people who’d pay for that.”

“And why not?” Rico agrees. “A happy baby is one of the best sounds in the world.”

“You would know, cugino,” Kosta says.

The sound of grownup laughter, it turns out, is pretty therapeutic too.

* * *

Everyone helps with the cleanup,but still, it’s late by the time all my cousins and their spouses and kids have gone home, and later still by the time Quinn and I have our own brood settled and asleep.

“Mmm,” Quinn says, her fingers tracing circles on the small of her back. “That was great. I really loved having everyone here.”

“Nothing better than family.”

I take over rubbing her back. She leans forward and braces her hands against the wall, groaning appreciatively when I dig in with my thumbs. “Want a shower?” I ask when her muscles are loose and warm.

“Yeah.” Quinn smiles at me. “Want to join me?”

“I can do that,” I say, as though that weren’t the idea all along. I trail her into the bathroom, bringing a baby monitor along and setting it on the counter. I untie the sash of her dress, then undo the buttons. Sliding the fabric from her shoulders, I lift her hair and brush my lips against the back of her neck.

“Teo.” Turning, she slides her hands up my chest. “You know you’re the greatest gift life has given me. Every moment of every day of every year.”

My wife never gets tired of saying things like that to me. Truth be told, I never get tired of hearing them. She changed my life the day she handed me that ice cream.

“You know you’re my heart.” I kiss the palm of her hand, then lay it flat against my chest. “Always.”

She presses against me, winding her arms around my neck. It’s late, and we’re tired, so I keep the kiss slow and sensual, backing her up without breaking the connection until I can reach the shower and turn it on. Steam rises around us while we undress each other, touching, tasting.

When everything with Santiago was finally wrapped up, and I was free to go on leave, I did exactly what I’d imagined. I took every day I had coming, and I spent it with Quinn. We didn’t stay in bed the entire time, but we were about as far from celibate as you can get. And every day, I wanted her more.

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